Dental FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions answered by our Bloomington IL Periodontist

Will It Hurt?

Dr. Noraian and his team will be as gentle as possible. Periodontal exams can be completed with little or no discomfort. Please note that even topical anesthetic jelly may be used for the exam to make it easier for you. For procedures, Dr. Noraian has several options to maximize your comfort.  He offers topical anesthetics, local anesthetics, nitrous oxide sedation, oral sedation, and conscious sedation to help you meet your treatment objectives.

Do I Need X-Rays?

Periodontal disease assessment includes both a clinical examination and a radiographic examination, so Dr. Noraian will need to review x-rays in order to see a disease that is not otherwise visible. If your referring dentist has taken x-rays, you may request to have them forwarded to Dr. Noraian‘s office. You may need to sign a release or pay a fee to have the x-rays forwarded by your referring dentist.

What Will It Cost?

Since each patient is different, Dr. Noraian will perform your examination, which helps to establish your treatment solutions. Whenever possible, Dr. Noraian will try to offer multiple treatment solutions to help you satisfy your personal and financial goals. Dr. Noraian‘s staff will provide you with written treatment solutions and their associated fees so that you have the best understanding of how to proceed with your treatment. The fee for periodontal treatment can vary considerably depending on the type of problems as well as the complexity and length of treatment. Dr. Noraian and his staff do their best to provide an approximate fee during the initial visit; but on occasion, Dr. Noraian or his staff may need to complete some additional exploration or further diagnostics before establishing your final treatment solution. Dr. Noraian‘s philosophy of practice is to treat as conservatively as possible to help you attain your treatment goals.

Will My Insurance Cover The Cost?

Dental insurance policies vary in regard to coverage of periodontal treatments. Oftentimes, it is difficult to predict what your insurance policy covers, so Dr. Noraian asks that you please bring all medical and dental benefit information and cards to your examination appointment. Upon your personal request, Dr. Noraian‘s staff will submit a claim to predetermine your insurance benefits. However, this is not required by most plans and is not a guarantee of your benefits coverage.

Will I Need Surgery?

Not all patients require periodontal surgery. If treated early, Dr. Noraian can control your gum disease without surgery. He will make recommendations based on your individual situation and provide you with information to help you make the treatment decision that is best for you. Again, Dr. Noraian‘s philosophy of practice is to treat as conservatively as possible to help you attain your treatment goals.

Can My Teeth Be Saved?

Recent advances in periodontal treatment allow periodontists to successfully treat most teeth. Periodontal literature has documented that periodontal treatment increases the ability to save teeth by five times. Because of this, Dr. Noraian‘s first objective is to save teeth. In cases of severe disease, it may not be possible to save teeth, so Dr. Noraian will recommend options to preserve bone in preparation for other tooth replacement options.

When Will I Go Back To My General Dentist?

Dr. Noraian works closely with your referring dentist, and if you do not have one, Dr. Noraian will help arrange a referral for you. Typically, your general dentist will provide restorative work such as crowns and fillings. Regardless of your treatment, regular visits to your dentist are an important part of periodontal maintenance. Dr. Noraian will usually share your recall visits with your general dentist alternating every three months depending on the reason for your referral to his office.

What If I Don’t Have Gum Treatment?

Periodontal disease is a progressive and often painless infection of the gums. Delaying periodontal treatment can cause further bone loss and premature tooth loss, which will lead to more expensive treatment. Dentures are never as effective as your own natural teeth when it comes to chewing and many times bone loss continues and fitting dentures becomes increasingly difficult.